I got the Brian May red special pedal recently, but i ordered it from the US and I live in the UK.
I got an adaptor but the thing started smoking. Can anyone help me by recommending what type of converter to buy?
Urghhh
Topic Starter: couldn't you have figured out the fact that the two aren't compatible due to different amounts of current by yourself? As in, before frying the electronics?
Deep fried diodes, anyone?
chazz12345 wrote: I got the Brian May red special pedal recently, but i ordered it from the US and I live in the UK.
I got an adaptor but the thing started smoking. Can anyone help me by recommending what type of converter to buy?
Urghhh
Dude... dude, dude, dud-e... If you buy from the US you must remember that they are on 110Volts power. UK is 220-240Volts. Hence the reason you'd need something to help that work over here. It's called a step-UP transformer. It will put the 110V device at the right rate for over here.
Adam.
Thanks guys - well i had an adaptor initially but that one fried, so I don't know what i'll do, wasn't my fault. I got a new adaptor but no response!! Just a real pain...
chazz12345 wrote: Thanks guys - well i had an adaptor initially but that one fried, so I don't know what i'll do, wasn't my fault. I got a new adaptor but no response!! Just a real pain...
When you say adaptor, do you mean a travel adaptor?
As Adam pointed out, you need a voltage converter so you can use the pedal. Actually, you need it so the AC adapter of the pedal doesn't fry. A simple "adaptor" won't work if the pedal's AC adapter specifically implies it MUST use 110 V. You need to convert down the 220 of the line to 110 so you can connect your device. Most laptop computers work with both voltages so an adapter (as the ones sold in airports) is all you need. For your pedal, you should use a converter or transformer.
Good luck with it. :)
Wiley
chazz12345 wrote: Thanks guys - well i had an adaptor initially but that one fried, so I don't know what i'll do, wasn't my fault. I got a new adaptor but no response!! Just a real pain...
Sorry to say this, but i think your pedal 'Bit the dust'! :( You should always read and look at any electronics that are made in a foreign country to make sure it is the correct voltage and plug in.
I too got a US pedal, not having noticed that there was no battery compartment.
Tried to source the official UK power supply, nobody had any stock. Ordered one from Germany (link, all ok since.
However, smoke is generally indicative of something having happened that you are unlikely to be able to un-happen. Still, looks great doesn't it? Maybe you can flog the bag on ebay...
I have a funny voltage story.
I did something similar and bought an expensive pedal from the US. When it arrived, I noticed it had a 3-pin kettle type plug. It made me wonder if it had a switchable voltage. I got a cable and plugged it in. Turned it on and it sounded like a buzzing lightbulb. Turned it off real quick! Like two seconds after switching it on. Then I smelled the smoke. Nice!
Got a step down or up transformer, I forget which, and tried again. It turned on and worked perfectly. We all make mistakes now and again, but damn, at least I had an idea that what I did was wrong before trying it out. Curiosity killed the cat.
Adam.
This just cries for the need to make things universal.... what works here in America should work in Japan, UK, Africa.. ect. I mean why the need to multiple region dvds.. I am not sayng that we should conform to the US standards, but that SOME standard should be made and we all use it.. I don't care if it is from the UK or places like that..
Megamike The GREAT wrote: This just cries for the need to make things universal.... what works here in America should work in Japan, UK, Africa.. ect. I mean why the need to multiple region dvds.. I am not sayng that we should conform to the US standards, but that SOME standard should be made and we all use it.. I don't care if it is from the UK or places like that..
Never gonna happen. The cost to have one universal format installed in either country would never be cost effective. It would cost millions if not billions to install. And then you have to think about two other things, 1, devices in peoples homes at present would need converted and 2, the whole system in place that works with that setup would all need to be replaced.
Never gonna happen.
Adam.
EDIT: BUT... actually, there is something interesting I could add. I remember buying the v-amp pro from the US and it had a small block that you flipped round to match the system you were on. And it had a standard kettle plug point at the back so It worked straight out of the box! So, it must be up to the manufacturers to give you the choice.
chazz12345 wrote: Thanks guys - well i had an adaptor initially but that one fried, so I don't know what i'll do, wasn't my fault. I got a new adaptor but no response!! Just a real pain...
When you say adaptor, do you mean a travel adaptor?
Yes a travel adaptor - looking back perhaps i was naive. however i did get an iriver music thing from the US and it worked with a travel adaptor, but i suppose an effects pedal is hgher voltage.
I buy stuff in the US as the dollar is so cheap these days, and sterling is a robber! Probably end up costing me more money in the end. I got a converter but nothing happened. I also ordered a UK plug for the pedal so hopefully that'll work. For the time being i can do nothing - i got the star licks video as well so that'll keep me going for the time being.
again thanks for the help everyone!
And by the way, it was between the travel adaptor the plug and the socket where the smoke was...there was no smoke from the pedal...so maybe there's reason to be positive about this - but i'm not an electronic guy or anything, i suppose i should be lucky i didn't burn the house down or injure myself?